Migraines & headaches decisions — 2020

The Veteran's migraines were initially rated noncompensable, but a rating of 30 percent was assigned as of January 17, 2019. The Board has remanded the case for further development due to outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to service connection for tension headaches due to a lack of development and need for an addendum opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting decisions and motions from the Court. The Veteran's sole service-connected disability is chronic cluster headaches, which does not meet the criteria for schedular TDIU consideration. However, the Board finds that his headaches may have prevented him from being capable of obtaining or maintaining a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's initial 50 percent disability rating for service-connected migraine and tension headaches is granted. The issue of a higher initial rating for TBI remains on appeal, as does the claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and disability ratings has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's lay statements and VA examiners' opinions. A new examination is required to address whether his headache disability began during service or is related to an in-service head injury, as well as whether it is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's headaches are rated at 50 percent from July 17, 2001 to March 10, 2015. The initial rating of 50 percent for depressive disorder is granted prior to March 17, 2015. Effective December 30, 2004, the Veteran's TDIU and DEA are granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasons and bases for denying a rating in excess of 10 percent for migraine headaches with visual aura, specifically regarding the frequency of characteristic prostrating attacks. The Veteran's representative contends that a higher disability rating is warranted or that he should be afforded a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate examination reports and inextricably intertwined issues. The Veteran's claims for increased rating, service connection, and total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) are currently under review.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including knee disabilities, CFS, rhinitis, respiratory issues, sleep apnea, and migraines. The remand requires additional medical opinions to address the relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, cervical spine disability, and migraine headaches due to incomplete verification of his Reserve service records. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury and basic eligibility for VA non-service-connected pension benefits due to lack of qualifying wartime service.

The Veteran's migraines are granted as secondary to his service-connected left sided inferior alveolar paresthesias. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is remanded for further review.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including obstructive sleep apnea and thoracolumbar spine levoscoliosis curve, have rendered him unable to engage in substantially gainful employment.

The Board has dismissed all appeals related to service connection for various conditions, including hearing loss, shoulder impingement syndrome, muscle pain, joint pain, respiratory issues, and headaches. The Veteran withdrew the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability was denied as he did not have a current diagnosis of the condition.,A 10 percent rating was granted for migraine headaches from March 2, 2009 to April 27, 2015. The Veteran’s headaches were found to be prostrating attacks occurring once every two months during this period.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar spine disability, hepatitis C, and headaches due to incomplete records. The Veteran's service connection claims are pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, PTSD, gouty arthritis, and obstructive sleep apnea were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and epididymo-orchitis, but granted a compensable disability rating of 50% for tension headaches and TDIU. The claim for dyshidrotic pompholyx of the right foot was not addressed as it is unrelated to service.